arpan tripathi

The contamination of water sources with heavy metal ions, especially Cu²⁺, has been on the rise, and hence, there is a need to develop efficient and sustainable adsorbent materials. This study aims at synthesizing cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-enhanced hydrogels for Cu²⁺ ion adsorption to improve adsorption capacity, mechanical stability, and reusability. Hydrogels were synthesized through free radical polymerization, incorporating CNFs to enhance structural integrity and surface area. The characterization by FTIR, SEM, and swelling studies proved that hydrogels were successfully synthesized with improved porosity. The batch adsorption experiments revealed high Cu²⁺ removal efficiency for CNF-enhanced hydrogels and attained rapid equilibrium of adsorption under optimized pH and contact time conditions. Adsorption was based on the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, with evidence of monolayer adsorption and a strong binding affinity. Regeneration studies confirmed multiple cycles of adsorption, indicating the sustainability potential of the hydrogel. These findings highlight the potential application of CNF-enhanced hydrogels in wastewater treatment, providing an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for heavy metal remediation.

In this study, the toxicological effects of textile effluent were studied on zebrafish (Danio rerio) through the examination of morphological and biochemical changes as a result of a 96 hour exposure to low, medium and high concentrations of effluents, when compared to the control group which was maintained in clean and filtered water. Morphological parameters including lamellar length, epithelial lifting, hyperplasia, and lamellar fusion were counted to obtain the Gill Damage Index (GDI), while the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) have been measured in order to The results showed dose-dependent fish’s gill damage and enzymatic activity decrease, which attests that textile effluent has both structural and biochemical effects on fish. These results point to the ecological threats of textile wastewater and zebrafish’s abilities as a bioindicator for aquatic environmental monitoring, highlighting the need to enhance effluent management and regulations, that is, timely intervention.